title: Applications of telecounselling in spinal cord injury rehabilitation: a systematic review with effect sizes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the short- and medium-term efficacy of counselling services provided remotely by telephone, video or internet, in managing mental health outcomes following spinal cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  A search of electronic databases, critical reviews and published meta-analyses was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven independent studies (N = 272 participants) met the inclusion criteria. The majority of these studies utilized telephone-based counselling, with limited research examining psychological interventions delivered by videoconferencing (N study = 1) or online (N study = 1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is some evidence that telecounselling can significantly improve an individual's management of common comorbidities following spinal cord injury, including pain and sleep difficulties (d = 0.45). Medium-term treatment effects were difficult to evaluate, with very few studies providing these data, although participants have reported gains in quality of life 12 months after treatment (d = 0.88). The main clinical advantages are time efficiency and consumer satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results highlight the need for further evidence, particularly randomized controlled trials, to establish the benefits and clinical viability of telecounselling.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dorstyn
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mathias
authors.forename: Linley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Denson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008603:Mental Health; D012944:Social Support; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013685:Telecommunications; D013689:Telephone; D049269:Videoconferencing
keywords: Spinal cord injuries; systematic review; telecounselling; telerehabilitation; treatment outcome